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After two years of non stop practicing, I am proud to announce that Nathan has made the Guardians Drum Corp! But let me back up a bit...
Nathan entered the school band program as a trumpet player, in the usual way. He liked it well enough and volunteered to learn French horn in Highschool. I always had to be on him to practice, which is par for the course for most band students. Then he saw a DCI performance and everything changed. He came to me declaring he was going to take up the snare. Being a former band member and eternal optimist, I knew how it worked and replied, "Oh hon, that was something you needed to start back in the 6th grade. By high school, you will have no chance of catching up. I'm sorry." Nevertheless, we found a drum pad and some sticks, as he was so insistent. I expected him to lose interest and move on to something else as teenage boys do. I was wrong.
Over the next two years, not only did he practice day and night, but he found videos & tutorials to learn proper technique, made connections in the drum world, connected with a mentor and learned everything he could about drumming. He went after his goal with a single minded purpose that I hadn't ever seen in him, except for maybe Legos when he was 4. He spends several hours a day with self-imposed practicing. Yes, Every. Single. Day. (other drum moms feel me here) Not only did he make the high school drumline the very next year, but he beat out older experienced players. He was over the moon and I was floored.
His eventual goal has always been to perform in a Drum and Bugle Corps, and after 4 callbacks and a late Sunday showdown, he was rewarded last month with an invitation to join the Guardians Drum Corp. I am super pleased with all his efforts, and so excited for his journey. Now, however, I am faced with the other side of all his dedication. The cost. After losing my corporate job in late 2019, things have been beyond tight financially. We have no "extra". He desperately wanted to get a job last summer to save up, but due to COVID I did not want to risk his health.
I am reaching out here in hopes that the village can help him fulfill this dream. The money raised will go directly towards his room, board, food, workshops, training, uniform, travel and performance fees. No, he will not be getting that cool Guardians jacket he wants. This is strictly for necessities. He has been a really good sport throughout our financial struggles and has gone without a lot of things other 17 year-old's take for granted and never once complained about his lot. If you can help him in any way, it would mean so much. If you can't, no worries at all. We also accept good vibes and hell yeahs.
I will post updates throughout the summer on his progress and where you can catch him in a show. (I think they have a show in Round Rock!) If you'd like to see videos of his drumming, you can check out his insta: https://www.instagram.com/josephdrum.s/ . Thanks for reading his story!
Nathan entered the school band program as a trumpet player, in the usual way. He liked it well enough and volunteered to learn French horn in Highschool. I always had to be on him to practice, which is par for the course for most band students. Then he saw a DCI performance and everything changed. He came to me declaring he was going to take up the snare. Being a former band member and eternal optimist, I knew how it worked and replied, "Oh hon, that was something you needed to start back in the 6th grade. By high school, you will have no chance of catching up. I'm sorry." Nevertheless, we found a drum pad and some sticks, as he was so insistent. I expected him to lose interest and move on to something else as teenage boys do. I was wrong.
Over the next two years, not only did he practice day and night, but he found videos & tutorials to learn proper technique, made connections in the drum world, connected with a mentor and learned everything he could about drumming. He went after his goal with a single minded purpose that I hadn't ever seen in him, except for maybe Legos when he was 4. He spends several hours a day with self-imposed practicing. Yes, Every. Single. Day. (other drum moms feel me here) Not only did he make the high school drumline the very next year, but he beat out older experienced players. He was over the moon and I was floored.
His eventual goal has always been to perform in a Drum and Bugle Corps, and after 4 callbacks and a late Sunday showdown, he was rewarded last month with an invitation to join the Guardians Drum Corp. I am super pleased with all his efforts, and so excited for his journey. Now, however, I am faced with the other side of all his dedication. The cost. After losing my corporate job in late 2019, things have been beyond tight financially. We have no "extra". He desperately wanted to get a job last summer to save up, but due to COVID I did not want to risk his health.
I am reaching out here in hopes that the village can help him fulfill this dream. The money raised will go directly towards his room, board, food, workshops, training, uniform, travel and performance fees. No, he will not be getting that cool Guardians jacket he wants. This is strictly for necessities. He has been a really good sport throughout our financial struggles and has gone without a lot of things other 17 year-old's take for granted and never once complained about his lot. If you can help him in any way, it would mean so much. If you can't, no worries at all. We also accept good vibes and hell yeahs.
I will post updates throughout the summer on his progress and where you can catch him in a show. (I think they have a show in Round Rock!) If you'd like to see videos of his drumming, you can check out his insta: https://www.instagram.com/josephdrum.s/ . Thanks for reading his story!